New technique to treat cleft lips devised

QATIF — A Saudi doctor has devised a “triangle right” procedure for the treatment of cleft lips, Al-Riyadh daily reported. Dr. Fatima Aal Nasrallah works at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh and she believes her invention will spread the technology locally and globally, in addition to educating surgeons. She said this would ultimately help avoid many of the complications typical with surgical scarring. “Cleft lip birth defects affect the functional side of patients, such as breast-feeding, speech, eating and drinking, in addition to isolationism. Cleft lip defects are the second most wide-spread congenital deformation worldwide; it affects one child in 1,000 births,” she said.